trbccoffeebreak

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” (John 14:13 NIV)

The dreaded “no” – a word none of us wants to hear, especially my fourteen year old niece. One day she asked for something, and I told her “no.” Her response: “But Lissa, you never say no to me.” Now that is not exactly true, but I was surprised by her bold expectation. As I considered the way she made her request and argument, my heart leapt with conviction. How often do I approach God with a request and stubbornly tell Him not to tell me no?

Jesus told his disciples that they could ask for anything. He even said that when we ask in His name, whatever we ask would be given to us (John 14:11-14). It wasn’t an open invitation for the will of man to reign, but rather an opportunity to participate in the will of God through prayer. It’s about asking for things that bring glory to God. It’s about the will of God being done, not the whim of man. There are many people who live by the “name-it-and –claim-it” theology. However, God doesn’t have to answer our prayers in the way we want, just like I cannot give into every whim of my nieces. I must pray and ask God for what I want but understand that His will is always what’s best. This is a toughie – No doubt! But God knows more than we know, and His ways are not like our ways. So no matter what we pray, we can trust that His answer of “No” or “Yes” is always best.

“Dear Lord, You are my Father and I know that you have a plan for me. Please bind me to Your will and teach me to desire Your heart above all else.”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break